Final answer:
When a person cannot make their own healthcare decisions, consent is obtained from a legally authorized representative or through previously established documents like a health care proxy or living will. The principles of autonomy and beneficence guide these practices.
Step-by-step explanation:
If a health practitioner or evaluator finds that a person is incapable of making a decision about a treatment or admission to a care facility, consent must be obtained from a legally authorized representative. This could be an individual who holds a health care proxy, a legal document that appoints them to make medical decisions on behalf of the patient. In situations where the patient has prepared a living will, the instructions within that document should be followed. If no such legal provisions are in place, family members, particularly parents or legal guardians, may be asked to provide consent, especially for children who are deemed not competent to give consent themselves.
The principle of autonomy is foundational in healthcare, ensuring that patients have the right to self-determine their care, which includes the preparation of advance directives and making end-of-life decisions. When a person lacks the capacity to make these decisions, the principle of beneficence guides healthcare providers to act in the best interests of the patient, which may involve seeking consent from an appointed or default decision-maker.